help with "custom h-pipe"

[GREYFOX4INCH]

hey, i want to use shorty headers with a short h-pipe kinda like the ones for long tubes,but shorter if possible, is there an easy way to do this? i would need to have extension pipes from the headers with o2 bungs, these pipes would stay on all the time. then i want the " H " part to be small and light so it would be easy to quickly swap out the cats for strait pipes by myself. i was thinking if i got (2) long tube h-pipes from bbk, one with cats, and one without, and make the extensions myself but BBK pipes are a little over my budget. useing inexpensive h-pipes to fabricate the small removable cat section seems logical but they all have wierd bends that make it seem kinda hard.(i dont have bender)
and all the flanges that i see in summit-jegs-ect... are the type with gaskets, how well do these flanges work if i plan on taking the mid section on and off frequently? i would prefer the ball and socket type im having trouble locating 2-1/2"--2-1/2" flanges of that type. if anyone has pictures of this type of setup that would be great!

HAS ANYONE DONE THIS BEFORE, OR AM I MAKING THIS TO COMLICATED???
ideas.....

 

[huRACEmentPSR]

id just have one h pipe, and have a flange welded on both ends of your cats, and a straight pipe to bolt in as well, and swap back and forth between cats and straight pipes.

 

[GREYFOX4INCH]

maybe if i put a flange in the middle of the short flow tubes that go into the mufflers and shorten the h-pipe by a few inches if i have to, depending on the size of the cats i get. i think i need those first. i wish the flow tubes were not welded to the flowmaster mufflers.

 

[huRACEmentPSR]

you want the cats as close to the headers as u can get....they get hotter and burn up more pollutants that way. id buy a catted h, cut out the cats with a little pipe on each side, weld flanges on both sides of the cats and the h pipe respectively, and make straight pipes with flanges that bolt in in place of the cats. or u could but a stock h and an offroad h used and spend the least money. h pipes are fairly easily changed once you know how to do it

 

[GREYFOX4INCH]

I have
the factory H pipe with 4 cats,(old and rusty)
an offraod H-pipe, (bent flange plates from heat and tension)
and a offroad x-pipe.(utilizes exhaust clamps)
all of these parts came off cars that i have owned so i didnt buy them, but im not very fond of the quality of any of these products that i own and i want new. i have swaped them many times so i know what has to be done to do it quick.
but have you ever tried to bolt on the factory H(4cats) with no one helping you? you need a person to access the header bolts from the engine bay, and from underneath.(im only like 155lbs) so i usally try to get a real strong friend to hold up the pipe,
and hold a wrench on the bolts. but all my friends with performance vehicles have sold them, and its becomeing increasingly difficult to get people to help me out. friends i mean they still will help me but im sick of asking.
i want this to be quick and simple so if it means fabricating my own work of art, so be it.
i want cats that are so light i cant hold em up with 3 fingers while i bolt em on.
anyway, when the h pipe comes down from the headers, and then makes that bend toward the back of the car... if i put the cats right there and used exhaust heat wrap and the air pump for the cats. wouldnt that be alright?
they would be like 1-2 feet from the headers. i could wrap the whole exhast system if need be, but some of the aftermarket pipes with cats have them down at the other end (not all do, but some) i dont know how essential this realy is.
also just to ask again: does anyone know how the gasket style flanges work and how practical they are for taking it apart somewhat frequetly?
(i would assume i would need to have a bunch of gaskets on hand)
stupid mustangs why do i have to love them

 

[huRACEmentPSR]

i feel ya on that man...would a ball-socket flange work with your desired setup? i think it would be a little easier to change out

 

[GREYFOX4INCH]

yeh it would, im just not sure where to get
2-1/2" --to- 2-1/2" out ball and socket flanges i see them offered alot as header collector reducers but they r
3" in -- 2-1/2" out. ill keep lookin

huRACEmentPSR your up all night too huh?
i work 11pm-7am, well i (kinda) work as you can see.lol
i get paid.... no boss, internet access, and little work to do so..

 

[huRACEmentPSR]

haha im on the west coast. its only 1 am here. im up late tho...imsomnia kills. i think u wanna go with the 2 1/2 to 2 1/2 ones....im thinking the same style as the h pipe to flowtube flange. mid pipes are a pain in the ass tho....so is smog and emissions testing....absolutely brutal in cali

 

[GREYFOX4INCH]

i hear that, im in mass so i got it 2nd worse.they failed me just for having 2 chamber flows with the 4 cat stock
h-pipe for noise so...
owell ive been thinking about this long enough, i think i know what i need to do to pull this off. thanks

 

[GREYFOX4INCH]

Does Any One Have A Good Link For Exhaust Flanges? Ball And Socket Type??????????
2 1/2 --2 1/2 Inch
Thanks

 

[GREYFOX4INCH]